MAY 2026 NEWSLETTER: UPDATES FROM THE INDEPENDENT DRIVERS GUILD
You can gain access to benefits by becoming a verified member! CLICK HERE.
Table of Contents: Driver Pay and Affordability Survey – Healthy Vision Month – Petitions to Stop Driverless Cars – Access to the Worker Healthy Living Program – New Jersey Life and AD&D Insurance – AND MORE!
ACTION NEEDED: Take the Driver Pay & Affordability Survey
Gas prices and driver costs keep going up, and we’re not getting the support we need. Across New York, drivers are paying more for gas, insurance, maintenance, repairs, car payments, and other expenses just to stay on the road. These rising costs cut directly into our take-home pay and force many to work longer hours to make the same amount.
That’s why IDG is asking drivers to fill out our new Rideshare Driver Pay & Affordability Survey.
Your responses will help us show what drivers are really facing and strengthen the fight for fair pay, stronger protections, and a rideshare industry that works for drivers, not just the app companies.
Take the survey today. IDG is fighting to make sure drivers have a real voice on the issues impacting their work, including rising expenses, unfair treatment, deactivations, benefits, and the future of the industry.
New York Drivers: Healthy Eyes, Safe Roads. Make Sure to Be Part of Healthy Vision Month This May 2026!
This May 1, 2026 through May 31st, 2026, Drivers Benefits by The Black Car Fund is offering a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card to Eligible,1 EnrolledDrivers who complete an in-store eye exam2 at a participating General Vision Services (GVS) location. Complete your eye exam between May 1, 2026, and May 31, 2026, then submit your receipt by June 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET). Once your submission is verified, you will receive your $25 Amazon.com Gift Card by email within one week.
If you do not receive your gift card within one week, please contact the Driver Support Team at 1-833-814-8590 or email help@driversbenefits.orgby June 22, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET). Visit our Healthy Vision Monthpagefor more details.
Fight Waymo and Protect Our Jobs Across the Nation
Thank you to all the IDG members who helped us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures against driverless vehicles in New York. One of our members also recently spoke on a panel outlining the growing driver concerns over driverless vehicles. We are continuing to fight back. Now, we’re on a mission to build our petition signatures in additional states.
Add your name to demand an immediate halt to Waymo’s self-driving car testing in Jersey City, Miami, and beyond, and stop all autonomous vehicle testing across the country. We must move quickly to protect driver jobs and our communities.
Sign your state’s petition here:
Raising Our Voices Against Driverless Cars in Rochester, NY
Thank you to the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Rochester, New York for hosting this important community roundtable* on the financial, economic, and ethical impact of driverless cars. Autonomous vehicles threaten the livelihoods of more than 300,000 drivers and the families who depend on them in New York, and millions more across the nation. As companies push to expand driverless technology, many working families could face devastating economic consequences, including the loss of stable income and increased reliance on public assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps.
Community members also raised serious concerns about the real-world dangers autonomous vehicles pose for passengers, especially people with disabilities and those who rely on flexibility and human assistance during rides. Unlike human drivers, robo vehicles cannot properly respond during emergencies, assist passengers who may need help entering or exiting a vehicle, or adapt when riders suddenly need to change destinations. Driver representatives connected to Rochester city officials who attended the event, urging elected leaders to stand with drivers and reject support for companies like Waymo in New York and across the country.
* Log in to Facebook to View the Video.
New York Drivers: Health Navigation Service (HNS) Helps You Take Control of Your Health
The Health Navigation Service is only available to Eligible Drivers who live in New York City and surrounding areas, and – once you Enroll in Drivers Benefits by The Black Car Fund – it gives you personalized care and support3 that includes:
- Health Insurance Support: Get help understanding your coverage or how to enroll in an affordable plan if you’re uninsured.
- An Initial Health Assessment: Receive a comprehensive exam at a participating ModernMD location to get a clear snapshot of your health.
- Continued Care Visits: Schedule follow-up visits with your primary doctor or at Doral Health & Wellness for ongoing care, including diagnostics and prescriptions.
If you have any more questions, or would like to register for free over the phone, call the Driver Support Team at 1-929-419-0390 anytime between Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET.
IDG Drivers: New Health Program Built for Drivers!
The Worker Healthy Living Program (WHLP) is a health and wellness program4 designed just for drivers like you. We focus on chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity-related health concerns, as well as sleep and stress issues that disproportionately impact rideshare drivers.
With WHLP, you get a powerhouse Care Team behind you providing:
- One-on-one physician support
- Customized health plan to help you reach your goals
- Access to nutrition guidance from a dietitian
- A dedicated health coach, fitness classes, and more
The Worker Healthy Living Program is flexible and adapts to your needs.
Your visits with the doctor, health coach, and registered dietitian are provided at no cost to you. ENROLL NOW.
IDG New Jersey Members Looking for Some Security? Life and AD&D Insurance Now Available for New Jersey Drivers
IDG NJ members, you now have access to $5,000 in Life Insurance and up to $25,000 in Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage through MetLife—effective May 1, 2025, with no waiting period.5 Coverage applies worldwide and includes natural causes, accidents, and more. Need to file a claim or want to confirm you are a member? Call 1-800-333-5440.
Honoring IDG’s Veteran Members on Memorial Day
This Memorial Day, the Independent Drivers Guild pauses to remember and honor the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We are grateful for the veterans in our driver community whose commitment to serving others continues long after their time in uniform. From military service to supporting families and communities through their work on the road, veteran drivers embody resilience, dedication, and strength. Today, we pay tribute to those we have lost and extend our deepest appreciation to the veterans who continue to lead by example every day.
Get support
New York Office Hours & Weekly Outreach
IDG’s NYC office is bigger and better than ever! Visit us:
New York Independent Drivers Guild
Monday – Friday, 10AM to 4PM
New Jersey Office Hours
New Jersey Independent Drivers Guild
110 Fieldcrest Avenue, 3rd Floor
Monday – Friday, 10AM to 6PM
Tuesday: 10AM to 4PM
Wednesday: 10AM to 4PM
Illinois Office Hours
IL Drivers! Have you visited our office yet? Come in and get support!
Illinois Independent Drivers Guild
114 W Higgins Rd Park Ridge, IL 60068
Monday 10AM to 7PM
Tuesday – Thursday 10AM to 4PM
Friday 10AM to 2PM
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Not in CT, IL, NJ, FL, or NY? Contact us here to speak with organizers about next steps. Reach out today – let’s organize in your state!
You can now read previous editions of the IDG Member Newsletter here!
*Terms and conditions apply – Click here: ny.driversbenefits.org for more details on eligibility rules and benefits requirements.
**While supplies last.
1You must meet Eligibility Requirements* to be enrolled in Drivers Benefits. An Eligible Driver is either: (i) a driver who is registered with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (NYC TLC) as a driver for a Black Car service and who, for initial eligibility, has provided service to passengers for at least twenty (20) hours during the past thirty (30) days and, for ongoing eligibility, based on driving-hours data provided by the NYC TLC for the rolling six (6) month prior periods, has provided service to passengers for an average of at least twenty (20) hours per month, with such hours measured from the time a passenger enters a vehicle until such passenger exits the same vehicle, or (ii) a driver is not registered with the NYC TLC and who qualifies as a Transportation Network Company (TNC) or is affiliated with a dispatch base that is a member of The Black Car Fund and in the prior calendar year has received a gross income of at least $4,000 during the most recent available calendar quarter from the provision of service to passengers in the State of New York. Gross revenue is determined based on income that will be reported on a driver’s Form 1099. These eligibility standards may be changed by The Black Car Fund upon at least 30 days’ notice. Enrolled drivers must continue to meet eligibility requirements to maintain access to the benefits. A Driver shall cease to be an Eligible Driver if said Driver has been found by the Workers’ Compensation Board to be disqualified as a claimant for lost time benefits pursuant to Section 114-a of the New York Workers’ Compensation Law. *These Eligibility Requirements were last updated and are effective as of April 9, 2026.
2Enrolled Drivers are entitled to an annual examination performed by a qualified optometrist or ophthalmologist. GVS’ comprehensive eye exam determines your prescription, and assists in the detection of high blood pressure, diabetes, and retinal and corneal disorders. The exam also includes cataract and glaucoma screening (including air pressure test). Enrolled Drivers are entitled to a Classic or Metropolitan GVS Private Collection frame at no cost or a Premier GVS Private Collection frame with a co-pay of $45 or a $100 credit toward any frame outside of the collection. A selection of prescription plastic lenses such as Single Vision, Bifocals or Trifocals is included at no cost. Certain lens options such as tints, scratch resistant coatings, and UV coatings are also included. In lieu of eyeglasses, GVS offers a 6-month supply of plan disposable contacts or a $100 credit for any contact lens outside of those included in the plan. Certain lenses and coatings are included at fixed costs under the program. A full vision benefits summary can be found here.
3Health Navigation is a support and guidance benefit only. It is not health insurance and does not provide medical care or replace professional medical advice. Any medical visits or services arranged through your insurance may be subject to co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs. Coverage and cost-sharing are determined solely by your insurance carrier. Drivers enrolled in Medicaid or the Essential Plan may have low or no out-of-pocket costs, depending on their specific plan. Available only to Eligible, Enrolled Drivers of Drivers Benefits by The Black Car Fund who are local to New York City.
4Note: Your WHLP visits are fully covered by the Independent Drivers Guild; no insurance is needed to participate in WHLP. If additional care (like labs or medications) is recommended, costs may apply, but we’ll help you find low- or no-cost options. We can also help you apply for health insurance for free.
5Note: These benefits are provided by the Independent Drivers Guild (IDG) and are intended for Uber, Lyft, and rideshare drivers who work in New Jersey. If you work in New York, please see the IDG’s benefits through the Drivers Benefits program for NY drivers. You may qualify for one program, but not both — please reach out to us for eligibility rules and details. Nothing in these materials is intended to be advice for a particular situation or individual. Please consult with your own advisors for such advice. Like most group insurance policies, insurance policies offered by MetLife contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. Please contact your benefits administrator or MetLife for costs and complete details. AD&D insurance does not include payment for certain losses as described in more detail in your certificate. Specific information pertaining to your insurance can be obtained by contacting MetLife. MetLife Group Term Life insurance and AD&D are issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166, under Policy Form GPN99/G2130- S. MetLife and the M logo are trademarks of MetLife, Inc. © 2026 MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC.
